spanish town

A 51-year-old St Catherine man who fondled and kissed an 11-year-old girl three years ago was sentenced to six months' hard labour in the Linstead Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for indecent assault.

Before sentencing, Senior Resident Magistrate Lorna Errar lamented the fact that children could not enjoy their childhood, like they used to in days gone by.

"I can remember when children used to play together and adults would supervise them. They would climb trees, play marbles but now it's different. It is really sad," she said.

After telling the man that he had committed a 'nasty act', she handed down her sentence and added she was still lenient under the circumstances.

The crown led evidence that on May 14, 2005, about noon, the child along with a relative and the accused were at a field working.

The accused was said to have lured the girl inside of a hut by telling her to "come look here". He allegedly held the child, kissed her repeatedly on the mouth and neck and touched her.He was caught in the act.

In his defence, he told the court that it is the child who came into the hut.

"She seh she like mi and mi seh mi like yuh back," he said. The RM told him that she did not believe a word, as he had abused the trust that the family had in him.